Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) welcomed eight new apprentices today and started the next chapter of a Coastal Georgia apprenticeship partnership that pairs classroom learning with paid, on-the-job equipment maintenance technician training at one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the Southeast.

During the apprenticeship signing ceremony, members of the second apprenticeship cohort were announced publicly as they formally signed their enrollment agreements: Logan Leach, Lyric Johnson, Jordan Dyer, Tristan Bodden, Nicholas Garett, Ahmod Gilbert, Darnell Washington and Mekhi Yates. Family members, leadership members of HMGMA and Savannah Tech and members of the community joined the celebration.

“As we continue to grow, one of our greatest opportunities is developing the highly skilled maintenance and automation talent that advanced manufacturing requires. Savannah Tech has been an outstanding partner in helping create a pathway for local residents to gain the training and hands-on experience needed to succeed at HMGMA. Together, we are building a sustainable workforce that will support our operations and create long-term career opportunities across Coastal Georgia,” said Dr. Brent Stubbs, chief administrative officer at HMGMA.

“Every apprentice who signs today is proof that Coastal Georgia does not have to look elsewhere for talent. We built this partnership with HMGMA so our neighbors can earn a paycheck, build real technical skills and grow a career right here at home,” said Tal Loos, vice president for Economic Development at Savannah Tech.

Apprentices split their week between three days on site at HMGMA and two days in the classroom at Savannah Tech and are paired with a mentor. Training covers electrical and mechanical systems, including hydraulics, pneumatics and gearing, in preparation for equipment maintenance positions supporting the plant’s stamping, welding, paint and general assembly shops.

The first apprenticeship class, which began in August 2025, is now more than a year into the program and is on track to move into full-time equipment maintenance positions at HMGMA in Spring 2027. Savannah Tech and HMGMA plan a graduation and celebration for that class in May 2027, tied to the college’s commencement.

Coastal Georgia residents interested in apprenticeships and other technical programs at Savannah Tech can learn more at www.savannahtech.edu.